According to a report by Dawn, a dengue outbreak in Turbat has led to the deaths of at least 14 patients, with over 5,000 individuals diagnosed with the disease in the Kech district of Makran division this year. Abu-Bakar, the district health officer of Kech, confirmed to Dawn on Friday, stating, “As many as 14 people died of dengue in Turbat alone, the district headquarters of Kech district, during the last two months.” He disclosed that out of 24,552 individuals screened this year, 5,329 tested positive for dengue. The fatalities occurred across various villages in Turbat.
Despite the significant number of deaths and cases, the health department has not declared an emergency in Kech district nor provided adequate treatment facilities for patients, as reported by Dawn. Mubarak Baloch, a patient, expressed, “Most patients face difficulties due to the lack of proper testing and laboratory facilities in government and private hospitals in the district.” He added, “I have been suffering from the dengue virus for the last week and have received no proper treatment, while I don’t have resources to go to Karachi for treatment.”
Another resident, Master Azad Baloch, voiced concerns about inconsistencies in test reports from different hospitals, underscoring the challenges faced by patients seeking accurate diagnoses and treatment. Furthermore, Dawn reported that dengue cases have also been documented in the port city of Gwadar and Panjgur district.